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Can Hepatitis C Be Cured?

Written by Robin Madell
| Published on November 20, 2013Medically Reviewed by George Krucik, MD, MBA
on November 20, 2013

Hepatitis C is a virus, but can it be cured? Find out about the condition and treatments, like medicines and transplants.

If you
or a loved one has been diagnosed with hepatitis C, it’s natural to wonder if
the condition can be cured. As a viral infection that can attack and damage the
liver, hepatitis C is one of the most serious hepatitis viruses.

Read on
to learn more about whether hepatitis C can be cured, and what you can do to
help prevent it.

Does Everyone Need Treatment?

This
fortunate minority will avoid having the infection become chronic and more
serious. Although it’s possible for the virus to disappear in this way, it’s
not clear what causes the infection to go away for this group.

Are There Medicines to Cure Hepatitis C?

The
most common form of treatment for the chronic form of hepatitis C is a
combination of the antiviral medicines ribavirin and interferon. The goal of
treatment with these medications is to rid your body of the virus.

These
drugs can slow down, and in some cases stop, the virus’ attack on your liver.
Your doctor or a liver specialist will monitor your treatment to determine its
effectiveness.

Is There a Vaccine to Prevent Hepatitis C?

Although
prevention is often the best cure, there is currently no vaccine to help
protect people from getting hepatitis C.

There
are vaccines for other hepatitis viruses, including hepatitis A and hepatitis
B. According to the CDC,
researchers are working toward developing a vaccine for hepatitis C as well.

However,
if you are diagnosed with hepatitis C, your doctor may advise you to get
vaccinated against hepatitis A and hepatitis B. This is because these viruses
can also lead to liver damage and complications during treatment of hepatitis
C.

Can a Transplant Cure Hepatitis C?

If you
develop chronic hepatitis C, an infection that becomes long-lasting and can
lead to liver cancer or liver failure, you may need a liver transplant.

To make
the treatment effective, it will be important to take the medications that your
doctor prescribes in order to keep you healthy.

Are Alternative Medicines Available?

Certain
forms of alternative medicine are believed by some to help cure hepatitis C.
However, the Mayo Clinic reports that there are no research-proven forms of
alternative treatment or complementary medicine for hepatitis C.

Milk
thistle is an herb commonly suggested to help cure liver disease. But a study
published in JAMA found that milk thistle was no more effective than a
placebo in treating patients with hepatitis C.

What is the Prognosis?

According
to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), it’s definitely
possible to have a positive response to treatment of hepatitis C. A successful
treatment means that the hepatitis C virus can’t be detected in your blood
anymore.

The NIH
also notes that because new treatments are in development by researchers who
are trying to cure hepatitis C, the outlook for patients is getting better as
well.

If you
have hepatitis C, it’s important to follow your doctor and healthcare team’s
treatment instructions. Antiviral drugs and other treatments must be taken the
correct way to be effective.

If you
have a liver transplant, the procedure’s success requires taking certain
medications afterward. These medications can help reduce the chances of the
virus returning.

If in
doubt, be sure to ask your doctor about the most effective way to manage your
treatments.

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